Breaking
Down More Barriers in Moscow with FilmFrom November 17-20, the
3rd International Disability Film Festival “Breaking Down
Barriers” was held in Moscow at the movie theater Salyut,
still one of the most accessible movie theaters in town. More than
1,500 people attended the four day event. Viewers included
teachers, social protection officials, students of film and social
work, special educators, disability activists and other members of the
community.

The festival showcased nearly
100 films from Canada, France, South Africa, Georgia, Russia, the U.S.,
Italy, Mexico, Denmark, Belgium, Ireland, the UK, Austria, Mexico,
Germany, and India. Films were short and long features,
documentaries, animation, films for children, about children, public
service announcements, and more. The films from 20
countries competed for 11 awards. The awards were selected by
a distinguished jury of Russian film-makers, chaired by the famous
Russian director, writer, producer and actor, Aleksander Mitta, who
graduated from the well-known All-Russian Cinema Institute in
1960. He is also a recipient of the distinguished Russian
Film Award, 2001, TEFI. In 2004 he was awarded the title
“Most Popular Artist of Russia.” At the start of
the festival, Mr. Mitta was interviewed by national Russian
TV. On National TV Mr Mitta remarked: “These are
films about disabled people, but they are not for them,
they’re for us. You get such a sense of fullness
from them …And it’s all true.” Read more about the
Moscow Film Festival...

U.S. Teenager
Wins Award for Acerbic Disability Awareness Video
Benjamin Snow, 19, was one of more than 300 video producers who entered
a contest to “Film Your Issue” in 30-60 seconds
last May. The results were posted online where thousands of viewing
voters selected Snow’s short video called “Thumbs
Down to Pity” as one of the 35 best. A professional media
jury then selected his creative entry as one of five winners. Snow and
his parents joined the other winners at the United Nations on June 19
for an awards ceremony. Go here to watch “Thumbs Down to
Pity,” an acerbic and humorous request to Hollywood
media-makers to excise this emotion from their disability treatments.
You can watch the video
on DisabilityWorld or watch and then order
a copy on DVD or VHS on Snow's website.

UN Convention on the Protection and
Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities